Food and Gift Cards for Furloughed Federal Employees Friday

union logo

The following is a press release from the the Humboldt & Del Norte Central Labor Council:

On this Friday, January 25th at the Labor Temple [840 E Street in Eureka], the Humboldt & Del Norte Central Labor Council and Cooperation Humboldt will be distributing grocery gift cards, non-perishable foods, and household items to the Federal workers and their families that have been impacted by the government shutdown.

Donations continue to pour into the Labor Temple, but have now expanded to donation barrels located at these local grocery stores: the North Coast Co-op (Arcata & Eureka), Safeway (Arcata & Eureka), Murphy’s Markets (Cutten), and the Grocery Outlet in Eureka. Gift cards from the Co-op and Safeway have been donated by the Labor Council and Building and Construction Trades Council.

“The impact of the government shutdown on these workers and their families has been tremendous,” said Labor Council President Mike Hetticher. “But they continue to diligently go to work every day and serve the public without complaint. As we get over a month into the shutdown, their resources have been extremely depleted, and they deserve better than being made pawns in Trump’s quest to build a wall.”

According to Tamara McFarland, Cooperation Humboldt, “The dysfunction in Washington DC underscores the need for us to work together locally. At Cooperation Humboldt we are proud of the federal workers who are still working, and grateful to collaborate with organized labor. In Humboldt County, we take care of each other.”’

For more information please visit their event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/980562018998391/

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Willie Caso-Mayhem
Guest
5 years ago

🕯Now this is a taste of what they need. And thank you Kelley and the Labor Temple for putting out this helpful information.

Joe Dirt
Guest
Joe Dirt
5 years ago

The United States government has become a clear and present danger to its citizens paying huge amounts of money to Russian oligarch Erwin deripaska while keeping crucial United States infrastructure starving this is not about a border wall this is about keeping the FBI and other agencies closed so that the criminal investigation on Donald Trump does not move forward

Joe Dirt
Guest
Joe Dirt
5 years ago
Reply to  Joe Dirt

Trump’s Secret Strategy Behind Government Shutdown
( YouTube)

Model Left 2016 Secret Fight To Escape Russia Oleg Deripaska’s Reach (Rachel Maddow) MSNBC
( YouTube)

These are really good YouTube’s explaining some of what is going on in the Trump Administration the first one is a Thom Hartmann

Y Knot?
Guest
Y Knot?
5 years ago

Don’t they feed themselves off the labor of others through forced taxation?

Loaning them food at high interest rates makes more sense.

They have no problem sticking working people with interest on debt, it’s time they learned how the rest live.

Blue dog
Guest
Blue dog
5 years ago
Reply to  Y Knot?

People who work for the government are working people

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Blue dog

~there’s good and bad in every profession. An 8-5:00, or 9-4:00 job isn’t my idea of work. Work, for the most part, implies labor, not just pushing papers.

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

So no RHBB reporters, teachers, accountants, bank tellers, software designers, engineers,etc are allowed? You would not be typing your opinions here if not for “paper pushers.”

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

~thanks again Guest. I was just going for the definition differences between ‘job’ and ‘work’.

In general i’m referring to those who hang-on to jobs they do not like for sake of a pen$ion.

I Never Said There Was No Collusion! 🐘🇷🇺
Guest
I Never Said There Was No Collusion! 🐘🇷🇺
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

Like Republican 🐘congressman, for instance?

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago

~like Human Resource (HHS) employees. Can’t say i know how they define themselves in the political world.

Jaekelopterus
Guest
Jaekelopterus
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_resources

Just because you are willfully ignorant of somebody’s job duties, doesn’t mean they don’t have any.

Kelley
Guest
Kelley
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

As you guys write, it’s probably good to remember that it’s crab season finally and the coast guard rescues our fishing fleet whenever they are in trouble.

Thank you Coast Guard. I am so glad you are here for our fishing fleets.

And the other job the coast guard does, if you are someone who cares about this wall, is they catch boats with drugs and refugees coming in.

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Kelley

~the Coast Guard, bless their hearts, is State, is it not?

Angela Robinson
Guest
Angela Robinson
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

No, the Coast Guard is Federal. Dept. of Homeland Security. And they are not getting paid.

I donated cash, in 20s, to our local Coast Guard (the Executive Petty Officer belongs to the USCG Chief Petty Officers Association which can take the donations directly. The Coast Guard can’t really).

The cash is for gas. Many others donated grocery gift cards and cash as well.

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago

~oh.

Aside – Hawaii and Alaska didn’t go for the “Homeland” Security scenario, or the “No child left behind” trick.

Thank you for donating cash to our local Coast Guard – good idea.

kelley
Guest
kelley
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

the coast guard is federal. you can see ted cruz talking about it on the senate floor today. neither the republican nor the democratic bills to reopen the governmentwere passed today.

now the air traffic controllers union has issued a statement that said
“We cannot even calculate the level of risk currently at play, nor predict the point at which the entire system will break,” the union leaders wrote. “It is unprecedented.”

In the joint statement, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association president, Paul Rinaldi, the Air Line Pilots Association president, Joe DePete, and the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA president, Sara Nelson, described a “growing concern for the safety and security of our members, our airlines, and the traveling public due to the government shutdown”.

thats from the guardian news.
humboldt county airport doesn’t use air traffic controllers, but the destination airports do use them.
its important to remember the union has the vested interest of getting its members their paycheck, so theres the possiblity the situation isnt as scary as they make it sound, but one wonders

the article goes on to say that absenteeism is double what it was a year ago adn that shifts are predictably longer as the remaining employees work to cover all the shifts.

Joe Dirt
Guest
Joe Dirt
5 years ago
Reply to  kelley

Pance is a horrible dude so I hope if Trump has to step down because of all the corruption that maybe we could get our elections done early and get Bernie are somebody that’s worth a sht in the presidential seat

shak
Guest
shak
5 years ago
Reply to  kelley

Cruz’s speech was awesome. I usually can’t stand to listen to him, and was taken aback by his passion and strength. Good message too.

Why are most of the other states celebrating their day of federal freedom by opening lemonaide stands, buying and selling raw milk, etc while Californian’s are in hysterics over loss of federal control?
Strange.

Ice
Guest
Ice
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

Federal. In Dept. Of Commerce during peacetime, Dept. Of Defense during a declared war.

Willie caos- mayhem
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Kelley

🕯Thank you for that reminder that some seem to have forgotten. 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

Ice
Guest
Ice
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

And most of these not working are Wildland Firefighters, Park Rangers, Air Traffic controllers, and Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers, to just name a few affected. Not a paper pusher in the bunch. Read up on who you are disparaging next time…

TQM
Guest
TQM
5 years ago
Reply to  Y Knot?

Troll.

Triniboldticino
Guest
Triniboldticino
5 years ago

You know, you got to feel for someone that is unnecessarily shut out of work. But it happens in the private sector all the time. I worked as a Fed for a couple years. In that time the “thrift savings plan” allowed me to bank over $25K tax free, and the Government matched it, tax free. I also got a 25% tax free COLA based on gross pay. They’re pretty well taken care of. What you don’t hear anything about is they do have the ability to tap their thrift savings plan to get by. One of my friends has close to half a million dollars in his, and is screaming bloody murder about the shutdown. On the one hand, I don’t blame him. On the other, STFU while I remain self employed and scraping by.

Rea
Guest
Rea
5 years ago

[edit] Must have been nice to get “COLA” as feds in humboldt do not. Most federal workers cannot even put much into their TSP because it’s too expensive to live in California.

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago

There are some questionable statements there- a 25% COLA?
Never heard of anything like that. Also good luck with getting private sector employees to work without pay. In fact the Federal and State government would be all over anyone other the the Federal government who would try that.

But, unlike the silliness of the press release, I doubt there are people working “diligently without complaint.” Even when paid the complaints are common. Not getting paid is a seriously good reason to complain a lot.

TQM
Guest
TQM
5 years ago

You are a liar. COLAs are NOT tax free. Nor is the early withdraw of retirement benefits penalty free.

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  TQM

“You are a liar.” Unnecessary. And inmyHumboldtopinion should be edited out.

Ice
Guest
Ice
5 years ago

Bullshit. The TSP is tax deferred. You pay full taxes on it when you take it out. And only the 1st 3 % percent is matched dollar for dollar, half a dollar match for the next 2 percent for a total of 5 % . Way less than a lot of other 401k funds. And there has never been a 25% cola. This year’s was 2.9%. They don’t even come every year and the largest ever was 5%. And you can only take a TSP loan for specific things, a shutdown is not one of them. Stop lying about fed benefits. I worked for the USFS for 35 years and retired, using my TSP now. You can’t bullshit me.

In my 1911 I trust
Guest
In my 1911 I trust
5 years ago

How about that food is donated to homeless and mentally ill instead? They have jobs that are paid by our taxes. They have savings as well. They still have their jobs. They will also receive back pay after the gov’t shut down ends, but they won’t repay any food that was given. Welcome to the real worls, it sucks, and they have it better off than most.

Blue dog
Guest
Blue dog
5 years ago

In the “real” world do you go to work everyday and get an IOU instead of a paycheck?

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Blue dog

~who doesn’t get an I.O.U. for their labor? What do you think Federal Reserve Notes are? “Legal” tender.
From the cradle to the casket we pass between us green paper that is only held together by our belief.

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago

Having to deal with any fool who shows up along with the homeless and mentally ill is the lot of government employees. There are an unfortunate number of people who complain simultaneously about the government not doing a good job at anything while demanding millionaire service at McDonalds prices.
The real kicker is those who complain about the government not taking care of the “homeless and mentally ill” while they themselves dump on anyone posting here who even makes a spelling error much less has difficulty with mental illness.

Angela Robinson
Guest
Angela Robinson
5 years ago

Just a reminder. Federal employees are also tax payers.

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago

~if one reads and interprets the 16th Amendment – the federal employees are the Only ones required to pay income tax.

The rest of us are dummies.

Jaekelopterus
Guest
Jaekelopterus
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

Uhhh, no.
“Amendment XVI
The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several states, and without regard to any census or enumeration.”

Wrong again, HumCo.

Doctor Doom
Guest
Doctor Doom
5 years ago
Reply to  Jaekelopterus

Unjustified taxes are a form of extortion if taxes are use to educate our children on improving the way we live are do something good for the planet keeping good fire protection and infrastructure for our well-being I would be glad to pay it is hard to give money to a corrupt government Federal State and Local has not been looking out for our well-being for a long time It’s seems that once they get in they are forced to drink the mind controlling Kool-Aid and they might as well be dead because it seems that they could do us no good

There is some hope for the future though OAC and Greta Thornburg and there is many others that maybe can turn back the hands of time 2 minutes midnight

Ice
Guest
Ice
5 years ago

Why do you say “they”? The Wildland Firefighters, National Park workers, and Bureau of Land Management around here are always needing people. There are unfilled positions here every year. All you have to do is apply for the jobs..but a lot of locals dont even check to find out how to get Fed jobs, sit home and bitch about not getting “a break”…

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
5 years ago

If you want the shutdown ended, call your elected representatives and tell them you want them to work toward that end. A reasonable position to begin negotiations has been offered. Pelosi and Schumer won’t even come to the table.

SMH!
Guest
SMH!
5 years ago
Reply to  I like stars

“Reasonable position to begin negotiations has been offered. ”
Lay off the fish food, it’s has no nutritional value for your brain.

Nothing reasonable has been offered. The big fat orange took away what the dreamers already HAD and offered it back under only temporary status. That’s not a deal but a rip off. That’s like stealing my radio and offering it back to me at a bargain price.

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  SMH!

Letter from President Donald J. Trump to Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi
January 17, 2019

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Madame Speaker:

Due to the Shutdown, I am sorry to inform you that your trip to Brussels, Egypt, and Afghanistan has been postponed. We will reschedule this seven-day excursion when the Shutdown is over. In light of the 800,000 great American workers not receiving pay, I am sure you would agree that postponing this public relations event is totally appropriate. I also feel that, during this period, it would be better if you were in Washington negotiating with me and joining the Strong Border Security movement to end the Shutdown. Obviously, if you would like to make your journey by flying commercial, that would certainly be your prerogative.

I look forward to seeing you soon and even more forward to watching our open and dangerous Southern Border finally receive the attention, funding, and security it so desperately deserves!

Sincerely,
Donald J. Trump

Jaekelopterus
Guest
Jaekelopterus
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

How are the secret tribunals going? I though you told me Nancy Pelosi and 80-100 other democrats were going to be extralegally tried in military court.

https://kymkemp.com/2019/01/18/frustrated-with-false-alarms-epd-changes-billing-process/#comment-737233

SMH
Guest
SMH
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

Fluff letter to appease the fishes and make y’all feel better over your immoral acts against humanity! His words mean nothing in comparative to his actual actions.

You know who, hundreds of thousands folks thought reasonable once too? Jim Jones.

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  SMH

Jim Jones like so many other public theater acts (sinking of the Titanic, 9-1-1, and Yes, Paradise Lost), should be researched further.

😉
Guest
😉
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

No matter what, skip the Kool-Aid!

Willie caos- mayhem
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  😉

🕯🕯Oh now I see. You guys are trying to turn this into the new darkroom. They are falling apart.

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago

~not all of us Willie. Just the few who are uninformed and shout “liar, liar pants on fire”!

Long live the Redheaded Blackbelt and her followers -even tho we disagree here and there.

Willie caos- mayhem
Guest
5 years ago

🕯I do agree with you chc

THC
Guest
THC
5 years ago
Reply to  SMH!

Yeah but it wasn’t there radio to begin with. They’re here illegally. Any generosity shown towards them is just that, he’s offering to let them borrow OUR radio…

SMH
Guest
SMH
5 years ago
Reply to  THC

Your rationalizion of theft and kindess is way off. You might want to to get a tune up on that.

Lol. Caiming amnesty is not illegal. Stop regurgitating bird seed, it’s pathetic. They were offered a path to offical legal status, under the previous administration. You can’t take that away and offer a maybe later, then act as if you’re being a nice guy!

This party is nothing but a used car lot offering lemons @ top dollar prices.

Besides, whatever happened to Mexico paying for the wall? Oh that’s right, The Great Orange Deal Maker, must of had fine print in the contract, it stated,
“B*** S***, Suckers!”

Sparklemahn
Guest
Sparklemahn
5 years ago
Reply to  I like stars

Hair Hitler The Flaming Orange Satan won’t compromise at all. He is the embodiment of death.

Joe Dirt
Guest
Joe Dirt
5 years ago
Reply to  Sparklemahn

The only company that makes this type of steel slat is a Canadian company owned by a Russian Roman Abramovich who is a personal friend of Ivanka Trump and Vladimir Putin also is part owner this is a Scandal on the American people

Trump’s secret strategy behind government shutdown

( YouTube)
Thom Hartmann

curlybill
Guest
curlybill
5 years ago
Reply to  I like stars

People knew who he was before the election, don’t cry and point the finger at someone else.

Der!
Guest
Der!
5 years ago
Reply to  curlybill

Some people knew who he was, & some people believed he was a successful businessman vs a successful Con.

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  curlybill

Trump got elected as a reaction to irrational behavior. And continuing in that vein, you miss the point that it is you who are crying and “I like stars” who is telling you criers who to call to fix it.

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

~it’s a do-it-yourself gig. We have to let go of the old to make way for the new.

Der!
Guest
Der!
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Who’s crying? I thought it was that group, who’s not getting their wall, which can be dug under or flown over?

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Der!

Or is the people who don’t want anything that might be effective immigration screening of illegal criminals and are willing to see the government shut down to prevent it?

I’m learning how this blame game is done. It is irrelevant that all the complainers seems to be liberals bent on obstruction. The goal is to target any opposing opinion with as much mud as can be thrown. That it is irrelevant or untrue doesn’t matter as long as it is hateful.

Brian
Guest
Brian
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

A wall would be “the most expensive and least effective way to do border security,” said Hurd, whose congressional district runs along the southern border from El Paso to San Antonio.

“There’s a thing in Texas we care about called private property rights,”

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/will-hurd-border-wall-myth-781204/

He’s not alone. Most if not all Reps who have border territory don’t support a wall.

This likely means most citizens who are represented by them don’t support it either.

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Brian

~same thing i’m thinking. Those who have ranches that are on the border, Texas, have more likely than not, owned the property from generation to generation.

Brian
Guest
Brian
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

Indeed, and of course a few individuals support walls (where geographically possible), but it seems the majority don’t.

It’s just one of many reasons Trump is wrong on this.

shak
Guest
shak
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

That’s been a ‘battle’ since Bush. One lady held out by taking it court and received not only an electronic password gate to access the land on the other side, but she also won over $58,000 for her 1/4 acre loss.
Not too shabby.
I remember when a lot of the southwestern land sat for years at $10.00 per acre. Then $50.00 per acre. The locals use to claim that the land is so barren that even the jack rabbits have to pack a lunch. Today it’s averaging $1,000.00 per acre. The wall project is offering $2,900.00 per acre if they agree now. If they don’t agree now, the Govt can use eminent domain which forces them to pay the going rate of $1,000. They still retain their land, if they own over an acre. Most of the ‘lots’ are anywhere from 5-1500 acres, depending on whether or not it’s been subdivided for gated communities. I don’t know the areas, and every area is unique, every parcel is unique, but the avg is what most are going by. I haven’t searched for the records and don’t have a proper quote of the parcels in question. Hopefully they will become public soon enough.

Are they holding out in hopes of zapping the tax payers for $60,000 per quarter acre? Only they know.
Are they holding out in hopes of keeping the horizon clean from barriers? That would be me. The slatted barrier would help alleviate claustrophobic cabin fever tendencies, but would still seem a nuisance on many days. It would be a welcome barrier when the neighbors build a 30 story 10 mile wide apt complex though.
Half a dozen of one and a dozen of the other.
It’s up to the individuals to let their concerns be told, and up to the journalists to provide the entire picture. For instance, the $58,000 lady above fought against the ‘selling’ of her 1/4 acre, spoke about wanting to access the acreage she owned on the other side, yet never bothered to say how much land she owned in total, how far away her home was from it, etc.
I hate eminent domain, but it’s heart warming to know that in avg they are offering triple the value. But an ‘avg’ doesn’t take into account the parcels that are developed so nicely they’re worth 1000 x’s the value. Those ones have an outlet called the Supreme Court though, like the $58,000 lady used.
Not bad for lunch packing jack rabbit territory. (an outsider’s viewpoint).

THC
Guest
THC
5 years ago
Reply to  Der!

You do realize the Democrats started the wall in 2006, almost all of them supported it then. Trump is just trying to complete the wall because there are still hundreds of miles with no physical barrier and hundreds of miles with nothing more than a chain link fence that’s about 6 ft tall.

SMH
Guest
SMH
5 years ago
Reply to  THC

More decisions based on fear. I thought we learned what a waste it was then. You think we’d know better by now. Made no difference then, makes no difference now.

Invest in more drones, boarder agents on horseback. Also address the abuse of work visas, illegals skip out on after they flown over the boarder!

Trevor
Guest
Trevor
5 years ago
Reply to  SMH

Then who’s going to stop? the 50000 armored vehicles and 25000 tanks that the red star Army has down by the border with 2 million troops all driving Ford Caravans border wall crisis Trump Got to declare a national emergency and make us pay for this border wall that will eventually cost 25 trillion dollars

shak
Guest
shak
5 years ago
Reply to  Trevor

Daily gas guzzling carbon producing expenses are more favored than a simple one time expense smart fence. The new green. (gas and carbon are taxable).

...
Guest
...
5 years ago
Reply to  I like stars

You have it backwards. McConnell could bring the bill passed unanimously during the last Senate back to a vote. He hasn’t. Pelosi has passed multiple reopening options for the Senate to vote on. McConnell has abdicated his duty. A wall wasn’t a priority when Republicans held the Congress, Senate and presidency.

THC
Guest
THC
5 years ago
Reply to  ...

Despite the majority, Republicans never had a 60-vote majority which is necessary to pass such legislation..

Brian
Guest
Brian
5 years ago
Reply to  THC

Did they try?

shak
Guest
shak
5 years ago
Reply to  THC

Thankfully, most of those “Rhino’s” got voted out or resigned. What a huge mess that was. Let’s hope the new guard is worth their salt.

Old Humboldt
Guest
Old Humboldt
5 years ago
Reply to  I like stars

The Democrats have forwarded plans to the table. They were rebuffed.

The President, acting like an autocratic despot, created and started this mess solely by himself. He was willing to shut down the government to do so, and all for a measly $5+ billion which would only build a portion of a hateful, wasteful, and wholly inefficient wall. He also claimed Mexico would pay for it, but changed his tune to taxpayers shouldering the cost. Letting the President have his way only sets the field for future shutdowns and tantrums of his own liking.

Do you remember him saying, “I own this shutdown”? He does own it. He needs to take responsibility by being the great ‘uniter’ and negotiator and ‘the smartest person in the room’ he claims he is. Unfortunately, he is incapable of it.

🌈
Guest
🌈
5 years ago
Reply to  I like stars

Sorry but gotta call bull.
No one has been allowed to even introduce any bill even for discussion unless it has all the money trump wants in it. Look up mitch mcconnell, he is the one blocking any attempt to have a bill read on the floor.
There are many alternative plans written but cannot be read or discussed. Politics is about compromise but trump is a bizman and not a good one, hes used to running things into the ground and moving on.
And so glad they let all the rich dudes from other countries legally bring in their child brides to our country with full citizenship last week. Seriously look it up, super skewed values!!! I guess “pro-lifers” dont care about child brides.

The wall is to benefit he&his buddies construction companies, every town with increased immigration has a drop in crime. They are fleeing the same crazy criminals we dont want here!
Read the el chapo trial, they all have testified they dont use the border for drugs anymore, it gets disguised as food and brought in on shipping containers&trucks. Prettyamusing to look up all the things theyve disguised coke as! And they use the canadian border too, theres parts you can still just walk over.
People along the southern border are having their land seized too!!!! Read their stories. They are pissed.

I say screw it, lets not give the feds our money this spring and instead put that money into our own communities since we’re starting to have to pay these folks anyways. We can support ourselves instead of giving them money that never ends up in projects to benefit our area. Gotta say those homesteading hippies had it right, they built schools and volunteer fire depts all over southern hum instead of paying the feds.

Taurusballzhoff
Guest
Taurusballzhoff
5 years ago

While it is true that the Federal Employees will eventually receive their paychecks, not everyone will have adequate savings to get through our country being held hostage by our despot president! Some consideration and tolerance, compassion and caring for Federal Employees is certainly called for!

Federal Employees work for lower salaries than in private industry, and, they have to put up with government foibles and stupid management processes, so let’s be nice!

If you feel inclined to attack the mailman who is “sucking” off the government, remember, he is the one who gets up every day to help keep your country operating! In a community, it takes each person, contributing and working to benefit the whole. This is what we call society. Be nice, be considerate, thank your Federal Employees for their service!

Kym Kemp
Admin
5 years ago

Well said.

Y Knot?
Guest
Y Knot?
5 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Kym always says nice things, that’s a fact.

Kym Kemp
Admin
5 years ago
Reply to  Y Knot?

Your irony is well known…(except for the readers who only come here occasionally)

Shel
Guest
Shel
5 years ago

Really truly? Fed employees make fine $. They will get their back pay. This is not the first shut down. Painting them as victims is borderline laughable. They are not losing their jobs. Their pay is delayed. Want to feel sorry for someone, feel sorry for people that are losing their jobs while their company goes overseas. Feel sorry for people who are being replaced by machines or their job squeezed out due to down sizing. Feel sorry for people that have been loyal employees for decades, living pay check to pay check that show up to work and are told they have thirty minutes to get their personal belongings and get out because the company is bankrupt. Feel sorry for them as that no one cares! They no longer have insurance if it was through their job. They can’t make mortgage payment/ rent etc etc. you think people would be up in arms and helping those people? What about their pay checks and retirement … bye bye. No one cares, no one even notices because it doesn’t play into the narrative of the big bad trump. This drama over a partial shut down is ridiculous and being made bigger drama than it is. The larger population can not even tell there is a partial gov shut down but by golly it’s so outrageous! Oh that big mean president is so cruel! Heartless! Group howl at the sky and pound the fist. Get over it … there are more important things happening not only in this country but abroad. Yes, it’s nice to help those in need but do it and move on unless you need a political outlet to scream you ideas about or virtual signaling. Go ahead and edit it Kym.

Kym Kemp
Admin
5 years ago
Reply to  Shel

You followed all the rules. There isn’t anything to edit.

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Shel

~that be true, Shel. Truth vibrates at a higher frequency than falsehoods.

Scientists have shown that people will go to absurd lengths and engage in mental gymnastics in order to cling to their belief in what those in authority have said.

shak
Guest
shak
5 years ago
Reply to  Shel

Well said Shel!
👍🏼 👍🏻 👍🏿 👍🏽 👍🏾

Ice
Guest
Ice
5 years ago
Reply to  Shel

Most local Fed employees work at agencies like the US Forest Service and are GS-4 to GS-9 levels. A GS-4 employee makes just over minimum wage. Has to take retirement, insurance, and medical out of that. You don’t think some Fed employees are not able to pay their mortgages? And their health benefits got stopped unless they pay out of pocket somehow. These are the same Wildland Firefighters everyone called hero’s for saving lives and property a few months ago..even Trump called them that. Now they’re hated ” bureaucrats”? Add in National Park workers, Coast guard pilots and rescue swimmers, and Air Traffic controllers all trying to make ends meet after not getting paid for over a month now..think about the real famiies this affects..

curlybill
Guest
curlybill
5 years ago

As I see it, these people, our fed employees, take home on average of $7 – $8 thousand a month.
I get by on less than $2 thousand.
I see comparing the two as a big discrepancy.

Rea
Guest
Rea
5 years ago
Reply to  curlybill

Where did you get your information?

curlybill
Guest
curlybill
5 years ago
Reply to  Rea

https://www.federalpay.org/employees/forest-service
So, I was a little off. I looked it up, and as an example someone below stated Forest Seervice Employee. They make on average $63 K per year, or $5,250 a month.
The reality is that 40 percent of Americans can’t cover a $400 emergency expense and 25 percent have no retirement savings whatsoever.
Do we really need a $40 K car bought on credit that we trade in before it is paid off?

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  curlybill

I suspect that is true for many Federal employees too. The main difference is not wages but the general stability of government work. The usual pattern is that layoffs that happens in economic downturns are rare for government employees because the government is not about to make those unemployment stats worse at that time. But at some point later, when the economy improves, government employees are still having their earnings frozen while others are gaining.

Staying long term at any job will allow an accumulation of resources rather than a feast or famine work history when the famines eat up resources faster than the feasts will store them up.

Ice
Guest
Ice
5 years ago
Reply to  curlybill

The highest level USFS employees may make that amount GROSS PAY, but remember no one takes home gross pay. Take out retirement, taxes, medical, life insurance, etc. And its a lot less than that. The average FS employee around here is a GS-4 to GS-9 employee. Makes much less than that national average..a lot can’t qualify for loans. And how to make the payments with no checks? Their health insurance has been stopped unless they find cash to send in the premiums. These are Woodland Firefighters that risk their lives to save others property in summer, get called hero’s in fire season, get nothing but crapped on by the public now…

Shel
Guest
Shel
5 years ago
Reply to  Rea

I was married to one and that is a good estimate as of 10 years ago depending on their step pay and what department. They also have good medical, dental, and eye care insurance. Their matching retirement plans are also very good. Many also get to drive federal vehicles to and from work as long as they don’t park in their driveways. Fed gov gas card. I realize this doesn’t apply to all but many do get bennies that you would not see in the private sector.
Yes, they can draw early from various retirement plans they have, some with small penalties. Local credit unions are extending low percentage personal loans. Others are helping and accommodating (you won’t find the same compassion for privately employed workers). The Fed employees will get their back pay. This is not the first close down. It’s an inconvenience but nothing like you or I if our private company employer shut down … we would be out on our butts in the cold and no one would give a rat’s fart. Welcome to the real world of private employed worker and gov worker. I am sympathetic but not overly concerned as they will come out fine …

shak
Guest
shak
5 years ago
Reply to  Shel

Well said Shel!

Ice
Guest
Ice
5 years ago
Reply to  Shel

The medical, dental, and vision are not free for Fed workers. It comes out of the checks. All has been frozen during shutdown. If a Fed employee wants their insurance they have to mail in their premium directly now..somehow. Also the Taxes, retirement, life insurance, etc. Comes out of the checks like everybody else. As for using Fed vehicles, only a few Law enforcement and Fire management can use them to commute to reduce response time for fires and law enforcement calls. If you know someone who did that and not a first responder they were breaking rules. As for early withdrawl from TSP funds, its BIG penalties, not little. And TSP offices are shut down so no one can process those. Maybe some feds can get loans but not all can qualify and how can rhey make the payments without checks? And not all mortgage companies and utilities are being all friendly about missed payments. .its more than an inconvienience..these aren’t bureaucrats, these are Wildland Firefighters and their families, Coast Guard helicopter crews, Park Rangers and other Law enforcement..people who serve the public and are pawns in a political game..

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  curlybill

There are some places where the Average Federal salary is that high, especially if benefits are added in. The Federal government has a weird system of wages based on location and comparable local prevailing wages. Thus a person working in Washington DC or San Francisco area may earn many thousands more than someone working in the same job in Humboldt Co. Also, while certain sectors such as FBI or Federal judges may get a large salary, that cited “average” does not trickle down to agencies like the Forest Service, for example, with an average salary of about $60,00 per year.

Ice
Guest
Ice
5 years ago
Reply to  curlybill

Not even close. Look up GS-4 wages. Just over minimum wage…

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago

~phukk the feds. They have slithered into California state via bribes and/or grant$. Unlawfully enlarging federal jurisdiction in state territory comes to mind.

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

However crudely put, that is not totally untrue. Dangling “free money” in the form of grants and subsidized programs is exactly how the Federal government gets their way where they really are not constitutionally permitted.

shak
Guest
shak
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

True that to both CH and Guest.
Plus, don’t forget all the social programs, silicon valley, media and certain search engines like that one that was founded/created by that Russian guy that certain posters always link to.
Good news is, over 200 journalists have been let go since the shut down began. Were they part of the RIF we’re learning about?

Jaekelopterus
Guest
Jaekelopterus
5 years ago
Reply to  shak

People around here use Yandex?

shak
Guest
shak
5 years ago
Reply to  shak

Typo! It’s 1000, not 200.
Strange how they’re all laid off/let go/fired during the govt shutdown. https://www.axios.com/digital-media-layoffs-consolidation-continue-1548289098-d3bd0e23-aef7-4ad5-8778-428391e80ac8.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=twsocialshare&utm_campaign=organic

“The media industry’s current round of cuts and consolidation is accelerating. Sizable layoffs at Buzzfeed, Gannett and Verizon Media (home of AOL, Yahoo, HuffPost and others) were announced Wednesday, totaling over 1,000 jobs cut.” …

Jaekelopterus
Guest
Jaekelopterus
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

Vladimir Putin doesn’t like the federal government, either. What a coincidence.

Bill
Guest
Bill
5 years ago

Thank you, Kym, for publishing all of the different opinions and points of view.
This is a controversial subject but everyone working together will get through it.
I dare say that those who receive the aid they need will be more inclined to pay it forward in the future.

Joe Dirt
Guest
Joe Dirt
5 years ago
Reply to  Bill

All federal employees that aren’t getting paid should join nines Credit Union in order to get paid
I wonder if they’ll pay for the rest of the government agencies when they fail
Responding to the comment below
dodo

nines
Guest
5 years ago

I don’t know what you guys are talking about. I’m old. Their financial institutions always cover for the interruption in paychecks. My credit union sent out a notice to all members that they were covering for any of us who are federal employees… as has always been the case in shutdowns in my experience.

The whole country is up in arms about STUPID political theatrics, when we have serious problems that need addressing. I happen to think Trump is more cognizant of them and willing to address them, but even if you hate him and think the other side is right, this stuff is all beside the point and the federal workers are NOT suffering more than just some inconvenience.

Brian
Guest
Brian
5 years ago
Reply to  nines

What do you mean your credit union is “covering for you”?

What is the coverage in dollars?
How long is the coverage good for?
Is there interest on the coverage?

I’m glad you aren’t suffering, it seems you may have it better off than others I’ve heard from.

Nonetheless, there’s many reasons why the shutdown is just some huge TV ratings stunt for Trump, although it seems to be failing – as his support is dropping in polls.

local observer
Guest
local observer
5 years ago
Reply to  Brian

he probably thought the funding for the Mueller investigation would stop. and/or he is batting for Putin and we really are 2 minutes to midnight. time of course will tell.

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  nines

nines,

~well said.

Reality
Guest
Reality
5 years ago
Reply to  nines

Why don’t they just borrow millions from their billionaire fathers when they can’t pay their bills? You know, like the rest of us common folk.

Doctor Doom
Guest
Doctor Doom
5 years ago
Reply to  Reality

I should have thought about that before I started Living on the streets and eating out of trash cans

Probably closer to 1 minute

shak
Guest
shak
5 years ago
Reply to  nines

Well said Nines!

Davey Jones
Guest
Davey Jones
5 years ago
Reply to  shak

Inconveniences at whose benefit China goes to the dark side of the moon. And is expanding into the United States Canada Africa India South America along with Russia. The largest solar farms in the world Morocco India and China
The
United States gave more tax breaks to the wealthy. While making it more expensive for solar power. And giving incentives to fracking companies petrochemical corporations. Oh that’s just where they’re invested in the den of Thieves are committing crimes that should be considered treason. Some people think it’s time for a
REVOLUTION !!!
I’ve even heard that Harley-Davidson is leaving the United States

Davey Jones
Guest
Davey Jones
5 years ago
Reply to  Davey Jones

….,,,,()+-;:'””*#$%%::….,,,*”‘:;!?+-%$$#@,,, OK ,,…thanks ¥√√√ Post-it÷~|•℅™€¢
U-Rover is the new editor for redheaded Blackbelt comment section*”‘:;!?!+-&%‰ cuz it going to start being mandatory now it used to be okay…. until the Trump take over now we’re part of Russia
Maybe bendover can help me fix it where does the dots and the dash is go again??—___++
*–

Jaekelopterus
Guest
Jaekelopterus
5 years ago
Reply to  Davey Jones

That doesn’t look like cyrillic, comrade!

Ullr Rover
Guest
Ullr Rover
5 years ago
Reply to  Davey Jones

Thanks for the edit. It’s readable now.
But some of your assertions are wrong. Solar power still h as a 30% federal tax incentive. .. read subsidy.

shak
Guest
shak
5 years ago

Repeat:
“Last week, House GOP voted to pay federal employees their 1st paycheck of 2019, despite shutdown. Only 6 Dems voted with us. It failed.” — Rep Dan Crenshaw
Final vote http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2019/roll043.xml
Come on people, man the phones and get those reps to get off the party beach and work something out. They’re playing politics with people’s lives here.

In the meantime, yes, they can file for unemployment benefits. They do need to pay it back after their payback checks arrive. https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/furlough-guidance/

Ullr Rover
Guest
Ullr Rover
5 years ago
Reply to  shak

Impossible! That does not fit the narrative.

shak
Guest
shak
5 years ago
Reply to  Ullr Rover

You nailed it.

From the H.J. Res 28 page:
“Shown Here:
Passed House (01/23/2019)
Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2019

This joint resolution provides continuing FY2019 appropriations to several federal agencies through the earlier of February 28, 2019, or the enactment of the applicable appropriations legislation.

It is known as a continuing resolution (CR) and ends the partial government shutdown that began after the existing CR expired on December 21, 2018, because seven of the remaining FY2019 appropriations bills have not been enacted.

(Five of the FY2019 appropriations bills were enacted last year, including

the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2019;
the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019;
the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019;
the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2019; and
the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019.)
Additionally, the CR has the effect of extending through February 28, 2019, several authorities and programs that were extended in prior CRs, including

the Violence Against Women Act,
the authority for the Environmental Protection Agency to collect and spend certain fees related to pesticides,
the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, and
several authorities related to immigration.”
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-joint-resolution/28

As far as I can tell, only the CR was to be voted on, nothing else, no added budgets or causes. It was just the Continued Appropriations of pre-passed budgeting. Unless I missed it, so I’m posting it here in case I missed it.
Do you see anything about spending for a wall or a new shiny mercedes benz or anything?

Jaekelopterus
Guest
Jaekelopterus
5 years ago
Reply to  shak

Both parties came up with their own budget proposals, the main difference being that the Republican budget was about 6 billion dollars more expensive. They were *both* voted down.

Brian
Guest
Brian
5 years ago
Reply to  shak

Shak is referencing HJ Res 28:

It didn’t matter if it had passed shak:

The chamber momentarily approved the CR (H.J. Res. 28), which would have reopened unfunded agencies at fiscal 2018 spending levels until the end of February. But due to a procedural snafu during its passage, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said lawmakers would revisit the bill next week with a recorded vote.

The CR extending funding until Feb. 28 is unlikely to become law, even if the House approves it by recorded vote next week. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has decried the House’s efforts so far to reopen the government as partisan exercises, and said he would refuse to allow any bill to receive a vote in the Senate unless it has Trump’s support.

https://m.govexec.com/management/2019/01/house-rejects-gop-effort-give-feds-their-first-missed-paycheck-continue-shutdown/154256/

So, what will you tell you Representatives I’m curious.

shak
Guest
shak
5 years ago

Yesterday’s attempt to fund the workers, fails again. Schumer blocks bill to pay coast guard.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/426824-schumer-blocks-bill-to-pay-coast-guard

Today, POTUS announced that the shutdown will temporarily halt, possibly said (I don’t remember exact words) that workers will receive back pay, and that the floor has a few weeks to get this worked out or he’ll implement the National Security Defense method. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClZ-7MmXulk

I hope somewhere along the way, a separate bill will be made that places the CC into a stand alone bill that guarantees them pay during shut downs. Being inserted into a controversial dept like they are right now, seems like a corrupt way to safeguard the dept they’ve been tied down to.

Jaekelopterus
Guest
Jaekelopterus
5 years ago
Reply to  shak

There were two bills to fund paychecks for feferal employees, one out forward by each party. Both failed, although the Democratic bill got limited bipartisan support.

The main difference was that the Republican bill contained almost 6 billion extra dollars for some dumbass wall in the desert.

Ice
Guest
Ice
5 years ago

Ignore my above post. He did decide to open for 3 weeks after all..Although, The cost of reopening and closing it again will be tens of millions..The workers need to be paid but that closure cost money could have been used for so many other things..

shak
Guest
shak
5 years ago
Reply to  Ice

Put away the Lemonaide stand, the feds are back.
More and more congresswo/men are speaking up against congress collecting pay during shut downs. I, for one, am hoping they pass a law that restricts their pay and play during shut downs. https://thepoliticalinsider.com/lawmakers-pay-government-shutdown/

Jaekelopterus
Guest
Jaekelopterus
5 years ago
Reply to  shak

Trump, the master negotiator, shut down the federal government for more than a month, hobbling our infrastructure and making our borders less secure, and got absolutely nothing out of it. Are you getting tired of winning yet?

Jaekelopterus
Guest
Jaekelopterus
5 years ago
Reply to  shak

Halting lawmaker pay would require a constitutional amendment. Do you REALLY think that is possible right now? MAYBE while Republicans held both houses, but certainly not now.

shak
Guest
shak
5 years ago
Reply to  Ice

Spending $2BILLION per day housing, processing, deporting, catching, manning, and fighting over Peaches the Wall isn’t exactly chump change.